Evacuations Issued and Downgraded in Klickitat County as Lyle Hill Fire Threatens Gorge Structures

Residents of the Columbia River Gorge community of Lyle, Washington experienced a tense Sunday as the Lyle Hill Fire prompted mandatory evacuation orders that stretched from Level 2 to Level 3 — before firefighters made sufficient progress to allow authorities to begin rolling back the orders by Sunday evening.

Evacuation Timeline

The Lyle Hill Fire ignited on Sunday, June 29, at approximately 1:45 p.m. in Klickitat County, Washington. Pushed by gusty afternoon winds, the fire spread quickly through brush and grass in the rolling terrain above the gorge community, threatening homes, outbuildings, power infrastructure, and orchards in its path.

Within hours of the fire starting, Klickitat County Emergency Management issued a mix of Level 2 (“Get Set”) and Level 3 (“Go Now”) evacuation notifications. Level 3 is the highest evacuation level — meaning residents must leave immediately without waiting for further instruction.

By 6 p.m. the same day, however, the situation had improved enough that emergency managers began downgrading orders. Some Level 3 zones were lowered to Level 2, and residents at Level 2 were advised to be packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice but were not required to vacate immediately.

Road Closures and Traffic Management

The Centerville Highway, which runs through the affected area, was closed during the most intense firefighting operations. Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on June 29, pilot vehicles escorted traffic through the closed section to allow residents to return home. After 9 p.m., the highway reopened to normal traffic, with electronic message boards warning of “FIRE TRAFFIC AHEAD — USE CAUTION” and asking drivers to watch for first responders along the roads.

Structures Threatened

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center reported that approximately 75 structures were threatened by the fire, including homes, crops, power lines, and electrical substations. As of Monday morning, no structure losses had been confirmed by officials.

A Red Cross emergency shelter opened at Columbia High School in White Salmon, but closed after 24 hours when no evacuees required its services. Anyone who still needs Red Cross assistance is encouraged to call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Community Resilience

Community members responded swiftly to help one another. Lyle resident Kaitlin Johnston opened her private stables to anyone needing to evacuate horses. The Gorge community, already familiar with wildfire after last year’s growing fire burned homes in the area, mobilized quickly to support neighbors.

“I feel like we’re a very tight-knit, resilient community,” Johnston said. “But it wears on people. I know people that lost their homes last year and they still haven’t been able to rebuild.”

Evacuation Level Definitions

Washington state uses a three-level evacuation system. Knowing what each level means can save lives:

Level 1 – “Be Ready”: Be aware and prepare to leave. Monitor conditions and be ready to go quickly.
Level 2 – “Get Set”: Be packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Vulnerable populations should consider leaving now.
Level 3 – “Go Now”: Leave immediately. Do not wait. There is immediate danger to life and safety in the area.